My dog's whole body hurts after vaccine. Is this a normal reaction?

I'm so sorry that Zeke is painful after his vaccination. Unfortunately, pain at the injection site is a possible side effect of vaccinations and some small dogs tend to become achy and painful all over. I would recommend contacting your veterinarian. There are some prescription pain medications that can be very helpful in decreasing pain and inflammation associated with vaccination. I will typically use Metacam which works very well. You may also ask your veterinarian if Zeke should have pain medication in the future before his vaccinations, so he does not have this problem again. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Zeke feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

My suspicion is that this is injection-site pain and not a "true" vaccine reaction, however I do know that dogs (especially small ones) can be pretty painful in the limb they were vaccinated in for up to 36 hours afterwards. I wouldn't call it "normal" but we definitely see it - both of my own small dogs were painful after their last lepto vaccine. Because they can be pretty miserable, I would recommend calling your vet and asking if they might dispense a bit of pain relief - perhaps only 2 - 3 days worth - to make sure Ted is comfortable over the weekend. And if you see other more concerning signs - swelling about the head or face, difficulty breathing, vomiting, collapse - take him right into an emergency facility.

Hello there, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear that Snapple isn't feeling well. It isn't entirely uncommon for dogs to feel sore and puny after a round of vaccines - just like people can. They can cause soreness at the area of injection and mild general malaise, which would explain Snapple's unwillingness to move and whimpering when you try to touch her. This will probably abate over the next day, but if you notice any other symptoms such as swelling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or diarrhea, please call your vet as these may indicate a more serious reaction. This is very unlikely as most severe vaccine reactions occur within an hour of the shots, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. If she's still acting puny tomorrow, feel free to call your vet and let them know. They may be able to recommend or prescribe an anti-inflammatory/pain reliever that will make her feel much better. Do not give her anything over the counter as it may not be safe for her. Good luck, and I hope that Snapple gets back on her feet soon!

Hi there. Yes, it's normal for dogs to be sore and lay around for a day or two after getting vaccinations - just like human kids! There is nothing over-the-counter that is safe to give dogs for pain, but you could call your veterinarian in the morning to ask about prescribing an anti-inflammatory med for her for a few days if she still seems pretty sore. For tonight, I would recommend just leaving her alone to rest. Most dogs are back to normal within a few days :)

It can be painful to get vaccines and smaller breed dogs can act more painful than they really are! Sometimes, to be honest, they can be a bit of drama queens. You should what it's like to trim a pug's nails lol. You'd think you are killing them with all the noise they make! Anyway, you can put an ice pack where Nixon got the vaccines to see if that helps, but he should be back to normal in a day or two. Best of luck.

This type of side effect is not uncommon, pain at the site of the vaccination can be severe but it is usually not considered to be an emergency. if the pain seems to still be severe tomorrow, take her to your vet to get it checked, if your vet judges that the pain is indeed severe he will probably give her a pain killer for a couple days.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Bruno is such a cute pup! I am sorry he is painful. The pain is likely from the vaccine if you gave it in-between his shoulder blades. I would recommend calling your regular veterinarian for an anti-inflammatory medication or you can wait a day and see if the pain subsides. I would not give any over the counter human medication as it could have adverse side effects. Good luck and I hope bruno feels better!